SEPTEMBER 15, 2016: Public meetings will be held at Aveley and Muchea at the end of September, to discuss plans for industrial gasfields in the Swan Valley.
Lock the Gate Alliance Mid West Coordinator, Simone van Hattem said there is a gas exploration license over a large part of the Swan Valley and the Chittering Valley.
“Southern Sky Energy holds a gas exploration licence running from the heart of the Swan Valley north to an area near Eneabba” Ms van Hattem said.
“This includes wineries, other key tourist sites, horse studs, productive farm land, Walyunga National Park and residential areas including The Vines.
“A second company, Macallum Group Ltd, holds a 50% stake in the gas licence and they have stated that they are considering future unconventional gas production (from tight gas and shale gas) from the North Perth Basin[1].
“Unconventional gas mining involves vast gasfields that spread over large areas, and typically include thousands of gas wells, roads, pipelines, compressor stations and waste water treatment.
“The spread of industrial gasfields puts at risk agricultural activities, community health, land values and water resources.
“It’s not just the dangerous business of fracking, and the vast amounts of water that it uses, but the spread of extensive invasive gasfields that the community would have to deal with if this industry were allowed to roll out here.
“Gasfields are a massive threat to the vibrant tourism and agricultural enterprises in the Swan Valley, and they put our future at risk” she said.
Lock The Gate Alliance’s Community Coordinator, Annie Kia, who will be speaking, said the meetings were being held in response to concern from local citizens and business owners in the area.
“Community members including winery owners we’ve spoken to, have said they want to protect their water resources and businesses from this type of industry,” Ms Kia said.
“Come and learn about the risks of shale and tight gas fracking, and how communities in other parts of Australia have fought back against invasive unconventional gasfields and won.”
The Swan Valley Public Meeting will take place at 7pm on Thursday, September 29, at Aveley Community Centre, 22 Bolero Rd Aveley.
The Chittering/Bullsbrook Public Meeting will take place at 7pm on Friday, September 30, at Muchea Hall, 48 Archibald St, Muchea.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
